************************************
The Government today (September 29) called on members of the public to guard against dengue fever by taking preventive measures against mosquito breeding so as to avoid contracting the disease and prevent spread of the disease.
The Consultant (Community Medicine) of the Department of Health (DH), Dr Tse Lai-yin, made the appeal following confirmation of one more local case of dengue fever at a press conference held this afternoon.
The case involved a 28-year-old man who lived in Tin Shui Wai. He developed fever and headache on September 22. He was admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital on September 25 and is in stable condition. He had neither gone to Ma Wan nor travelled outside Hong Kong during the incubation period and the case is a local one. The patient recalled mosquito-bites while fishing near Fish Marketing Organization Market in Cheung Sha Wan before the onset of the illness.
Dr Tse said this was the first local case of dengue fever unrelated to Ma Wan. Investigation into the source of infection is continuing.
She said that dengue fever was an acute febrile viral illness transmitted by the bite of infective Aedes mosquito.
"Prevention of mosquito bites and elimination of mosquito breeding places are the most important components of the prevention strategy, and community participation is essential to its success, " Dr Tse stressed.
Workers around the Market in Cheung Sha Wan are advised to call the DH special hotline 2961 8966 for enquiry and health advice if they have febrile illness with other symptoms like rash, intense headache, eye pain and generalized aches after July 1, 2002.
The hotline is manned by healthcare professionals from 9 am to 5 pm Mondays to Fridays and from 9 am to 1 pm on Saturdays.
Dr Tse reminded members of the public to clear stagnant water in their homes and surrounding areas to avoid breeding of mosquitoes. They should:
* Put all used cans and bottles into dustbins with cover,
* Change water for plants at least once a week, leaving no water in the saucers underneath flower pots,
* Cover tightly all water containers, wells and water storage tanks, and
* Keep all drains free from choke.
The public should also adopt the following preventive measures to protect themselves against dengue fever:
* Wear long-sleeved clothes and long trousers,
* Use insect repellent over the exposed parts of the body,
* Use mosquito screens or nets when the room is not air-conditioned.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) continues to spare no effort in the prevention of mosquito breeding and proliferation under the current threat of dengue fever.
FEHD Consultant(Community Medicine), Dr Y Y Ho, said, "We have already carried out control measures around the Fish market. Starting tomorrow, our pest control staff will revisit the construction site to ensure that proper vector prevention and control measures are in place.
"In addition, a series of public education programmes will be launched with an objective to solicit public participation in guarding against mosquito breeding and the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.¡¨
Dr Ho pointed out that as the FEHD's anti-mosquito slogan "Let's remove stagnant water ¡V Eliminate mosquitoes for a healthy living" had clearly shown, Hong Kong can stay away from the threat of mosquito-borne diseases only when the community at large proactively takes heed of vector-control measures.
Following a meeting of the Inter-departmental Co-ordinating Committee on Dengue Fever on September 23, 16 departments Government departments and public organizations strived to promote public awareness towards dengue fever and eliminate mosquito breeding sites.
Information on dengue fever are available at DH website http://www.info.gov.hk/dh and information on mosquito control at FEHD website http://www.info.gov.hk/fehd.
To-date, 26 confirmed cases of dengue fever were reported in Hong Kong this (2002) year. Of these, 13 were imported cases and 13 local cases.
End/Sunday, September 29, 2002
NNNN
